Earlier this year, San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) became the first school district in the state to grant high school diplomas to students who did not pass the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE). With this change, more students left SFUSD with a high school diploma, enabling them to pursue postsecondary education or join the workforce with a secondary credential.

California's Governor will soon decide whether to sign or vito legislation affecting the California Children's Services (CCS) program, and the tens of thousands of children it serves. Governor Brown is considering Assembly Bill 187, which would extend the CCS program in its current form and provide support and life-saving services to children suffering from chronic, life-threatening medical conditions.

School is a place of growth, exploration, and opportunity, where youth establish important connections that provide guidance, encouragement, and a strong foundation for their future. Yet, every student comes from a different background with different abilities, skills, and needs in the classroom.

On August 14, the San Francisco Board of Education amended the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD)'s graduation requirements, a decision that immediately grants diplomas to 107 SFUSD students who received a Certificate of Completion instead of a diploma for the 2014-2015 school year, as a result of not having passed both sections of the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE).